Picked up the arm sling today. Freaking big piece of hardware. It’s an immobilization sling (I think?) – not just a supportive wimpy thing. Velcro straps around the arm, shoulder/neck and waist. Big ol’ “bolster” cushion supposedly optional and mainly for comfort. It has a photo how it should look when put on correctly, and it looks completely wrong compared to the videos I’ve watched. We're talkng the ones from doctors and orthopaedic clinics. I had heard/read the hand should be in line with, or above the elbow, so blood doesn’t pool in the hand. In the photo, it’s more like 110 degree angle instead of 90 degrees, and looks like gravity would let the arm slide right out. Ok, let’s just let the arm flop there below the waist. According to the directions, it’s supposed to tie the belt part around your waste. Uhm, ok. If I were to do that, I would be seriously bent over, trying to get my elboe and arm down to it. The elbow is supposed to fit neatly in the corner, or else it’s not correctly supported. If it’s absolutely supposed to be around the waste, I have to either I can double over or I can gently rest my arm on top of the sling (not inside). I shouldn’t stress over those details so much, but it’s annoying not knowing. I'm getting better though. I'm not completely freaking out right now. At first I researched all that stuff because I was paranoid that if it wasn't precisely in the right spot, it wouldn't heal correctly.
If they tell me how it works the day of, right before surgery, I’ll be too nervous to concentrate. If they tell me afterwards, I’ll be so loopy I won’t remember. And I might accuse my spouse for not paying close enough attention later if we have differing recollections.
Saw another patient picking up their brace at the office, and she advised one will wake up with the sling already on. Uhm, ok, so do they dress you first? Or do you go home in a hospital gown draped over you? I wondered if there’s preferable clothing to dress in, or bring with you. Heard I need to wait patiently for the hospital to call with instructions a day or two before.
The patient I ran into today said she heard button-up shirts are the way to go. I have a couple button-up shirts if needed. They make little button-assist tools. It still doesn’t answer the question how they want you to put on clothing – clench your arm against your side, or let it dangle, or prop it up on a table next to you.
Ugh. Previously, a person at the doctor’s office advised I would get all the important instructions for sling use at the first post-op visit. My first post-op is 10 days later. You’re going to give me instructions how to use the sling then? I get it if I can’t take a full shower until then, but it might be nice to know if I can change clothing in the first 10 days. If they do allow sort of shower, which of the methods they’d like me to use. The only thing they said was to not get the incision wet. They even said a lot of their patients find food wrap sucessful. That's nice, but what do they recommend doing with the arm during a shower? Do I keep the sling on? (probably not) Do I take the sling off, keep my arm in the same position and clutch my opposite side? Or do I let it dangle and flop around? I have a shower sling, but it doesn’t keep things very stable, and slides around my neck (I’ve tried it out). Holding my hand up in the brace position sounds like it might get tiring. Yet allowing it to dangle loosely, I’m afraid I might try to raise or move my arm out of habit (and haziness - not sure how much pain and/or painkillers I’ll be experiencing during the first week).
I guess all I need to know is to show up at the designated time with the brace, a down-payment for surger.y
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